TUC asks Government to raise trade union and human rights violations in Fiji in the UNHRC.

The TUC has asked the UK Mission to the UNHRC in Geneva to raise persistent violations of human and trade union rights in Fiji in the forthcoming Universal Periodic Review.

Her Excellence Ms Karen Pierce
Ambassador/Permanent Representative to UN Mission
Avenue Louis Casaï 58
1216 Cointrin
Geneva
Switzerland

Dear Ambassador

Universal Periodic Review - Fiji

I should be grateful for your support and help to bring to the attention of the Universal Periodic Reviews of Fiji to be undertaken by the UNHRC on 29 Oct 2014 our profound concern over persistent violations of trade union and human rights in Fiji.

The TUC appreciates the UK Government’s commitment to upholding democracy, good governance and the rule of law and its concern over, and initiatives to improve, the human rights situation in the Fiji Islands. The TUC, for its part, has kept a close watch on developments on the country’s compliance with key ILO conventions, notably, C87 on freedom of association and C98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining.  The efforts by the ILO and social partners to engage in a constructive dialogue with the regime in order to find solutions to continual violations have been unsuccessful. In September 2012, the regime expelled an ILO mission sent to verify the numerous allegations made by Fijian workers. The 2013 observations of the Committee of Experts and the conclusions of the Committee on Application of Standards both amply demonstrate the extent of the violations. 

A report compiled by the recent ILO Mission to the country will be submitted to the ILO Governing Body in November. The Compilation Report and Summary of Stakeholder Input note in several sections that the ILO has expressed concerns regarding the exercise of freedom of association. The ILO has also identified serious violations of trade union and labour rights brought about through the issuance of several decrees, from the Public Order Amendment Decree to the Essential National Industries Decree, among others. We would like the UK Mission to the UNHRC to raise these issues, ask the government of Fiji what steps it has taken or will take to repeal or amend the decrees concerned and urge it to bring the legislation into line with ILO Conventions 87 and 98. 

I would be grateful if you could ensure that these points are reflected in the UK’s submission to the UPR. Please, let me know if there is any further information we can supply. 

Yours sincerely

FRANCES O’ GRADY

General Secretary